An Illinois lawmaker says he wants Boeing Co. to build a new manufacturing plant in Decatur.

The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises Newspapers reports Forsyth Republican Rep. Bill Mitchell is hoping the Chicago-based aerospace company will build its new factory in the central Illinois community.

Boeing is looking for a location to build its new 400-seat 777X jetliner.

Boeing is looking at a $7 billion to $10 billion plant that would start with 3,250 workers in 2018 and grow to 8,500 by 2024. Mitchell says Decatur has "great manufacturing capacity and a highly skilled workforce.''

Several other states also submitted offers by Tuesday's deadline. They include Missouri, Alabama and California. Boeing officials are expected to announce the new plant's location early next year.

"The South African government said Friday it is aware of reports that the bogus sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela's memorial once faced a murder charge, and said he is being investigated," The Associated Press reports from Johannesburg.

At train stations from Rhode Island to Illinois to Oregon, children line up this month for one of the most important journeys of the year….on the Polar Express. Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers recently took the trip in the central Illinois town of Monticello, where he was greeted with hot chocolate, plenty of music and dancing, and of course a visit from old Saint Nick.